Resident asks county to endorse idea to build dome at Ag Center

Published: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 6:28 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 6:28 p.m.

Henderson County commissioners heard a presentation Wednesday on monolithic domes from Fletcher resident Dennis Justice, who owns a local sports management company.

Justice wants the board to endorse his proposal to put a roughly $21 million dome structure at the WNC Agricultural Center as a “disaster shelter disguised as a sports arena.”

Justice believes the dome could bring pro hockey back to the area, provide a venue for arena racing and indoor football, boost four departments at Western Carolina University and provide shelter for residents escaping a natural disaster.

“This concept is perfect for a structure, across from the Asheville Airport, to shelter people from incoming tornadoes or people evacuating a coastal city in North Carolina or South Carolina from a hurricane,” Justice said.

He said he's seeking a start-up grant from the town of Fletcher, but only wants Henderson County to endorse the project and urge other localities to adopt it. Justice said he's asking Asheville and Buncombe County to pay for a $25,000-$30,000 feasibility study.

Commissioners took no action, but Justice is hopeful they will take the issue back up March 4. More information about the dome can be found at www.wncdome.com.

In other business, commissioners:

• Unanimously approved an amendment to the county's Land Development Code extending the amount of maximum time that outdoor religious services such as tent revivals may be held from eight days to 12 weeks.

Pastors had asked for temporary-use permits to be extended for religious services in order to accommodate revivals and Bible camps, which sometimes last nine weeks or more.

“I come down on the side of government not interfering with religion at all, but at least this is going to be a set in the right direction,” Commissioner Mike Edney said.

• Authorized an $82,500 contract with Moseley Architects to complete planning, design, permitting and bidding for a $1 million renovation of the 1995 courthouse.

Proposed improvements include a $50,000 wheelchair lift; gated staff parking; additional cameras and other security devices; and renovations to the Register of Deeds, District Attorney's Office and other offices. Commisioners appointed Commissioner Tommy Thompson, a former clerk of court, to serve as their liaison on the project.

County Manager Steve Wyatt suggested the board bring courthouse occupants up to speed on the renovation plans.

• Passed a motion re-authorizing County Attorney Russ Burrell to file suit in federal court if lot owners, regulatory agencies and others involved in the failed Seven Falls development cannot agree by March 13 on how the county should spend $6 million in bond proceeds.

Burrell updated commissioners about his Feb. 11 meeting with roughly 40 people involved with Seven Falls, including lien holders and developer Keith Vinson. The “worst-case” costs of installing bonded infrastructure has risen to $8.44 million, he said, about $2.5 million more than the county has to spend.

• Agreed to accept applications for a new “Regulation Review Advisory Committee” until noon on March 11, in order to make appointments at their March 20 meeting. The board discussed limiting the size of the new committee — which will look for county codes that impede business — to seven or nine members, but agreed to revisit that number after they see who applies.

Young warned that whatever number they ultimately decide on should allow for an easy quorum. The board also agreed to allow non-residents to apply for the committee if they own property or businesses in Henderson County.

<p>Henderson County commissioners heard a presentation Wednesday on monolithic domes from Fletcher resident Dennis Justice, who owns a local sports management company.</p><p>Justice wants the board to endorse his proposal to put a roughly $21 million dome structure at the WNC Agricultural Center as a “disaster shelter disguised as a sports arena.”</p><p>Justice believes the dome could bring pro hockey back to the area, provide a venue for arena racing and indoor football, boost four departments at Western Carolina University and provide shelter for residents escaping a natural disaster.</p><p>“This concept is perfect for a structure, across from the Asheville Airport, to shelter people from incoming tornadoes or people evacuating a coastal city in North Carolina or South Carolina from a hurricane,” Justice said. </p><p>He said he's seeking a start-up grant from the town of Fletcher, but only wants Henderson County to endorse the project and urge other localities to adopt it. Justice said he's asking Asheville and Buncombe County to pay for a $25,000-$30,000 feasibility study. </p><p>Commissioners took no action, but Justice is hopeful they will take the issue back up March 4. More information about the dome can be found at www.wncdome.com.</p><p>In other business, commissioners:</p><p>• Unanimously approved an amendment to the county's Land Development Code extending the amount of maximum time that outdoor religious services such as tent revivals may be held from eight days to 12 weeks. </p><p>Pastors had asked for temporary-use permits to be extended for religious services in order to accommodate revivals and Bible camps, which sometimes last nine weeks or more. </p><p>“I come down on the side of government not interfering with religion at all, but at least this is going to be a set in the right direction,” Commissioner Mike Edney said.</p><p>• Authorized an $82,500 contract with Moseley Architects to complete planning, design, permitting and bidding for a $1 million renovation of the 1995 courthouse. </p><p>Proposed improvements include a $50,000 wheelchair lift; gated staff parking; additional cameras and other security devices; and renovations to the Register of Deeds, District Attorney's Office and other offices. Commisioners appointed Commissioner Tommy Thompson, a former clerk of court, to serve as their liaison on the project. </p><p>County Manager Steve Wyatt suggested the board bring courthouse occupants up to speed on the renovation plans.</p><p>• Passed a motion re-authorizing County Attorney Russ Burrell to file suit in federal court if lot owners, regulatory agencies and others involved in the failed Seven Falls development cannot agree by March 13 on how the county should spend $6 million in bond proceeds. </p><p>Burrell updated commissioners about his Feb. 11 meeting with roughly 40 people involved with Seven Falls, including lien holders and developer Keith Vinson. The “worst-case” costs of installing bonded infrastructure has risen to $8.44 million, he said, about $2.5 million more than the county has to spend.</p><p>• Agreed to accept applications for a new “Regulation Review Advisory Committee” until noon on March 11, in order to make appointments at their March 20 meeting. The board discussed limiting the size of the new committee — which will look for county codes that impede business — to seven or nine members, but agreed to revisit that number after they see who applies. </p><p>Young warned that whatever number they ultimately decide on should allow for an easy quorum. The board also agreed to allow non-residents to apply for the committee if they own property or businesses in Henderson County.</p><p>Reach Axtell at 828-694-7860 or than.axtell@blueridgenow.com.</p>